Rescuers pulled nine people from the sea

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30: Rescuers pulled nine people from the sea but one was still missing after a helicopter carrying 10 passengers and crew crashed in the South China Sea off Malaysia's eastern state of Sarawak today.

State oil firm Petronas said the Super Puma L2 helicopter, with eight passengers and two pilots went down around 2.30 p.m., shortly after taking off from an offshore platform 80 km from the coastal town of Bintulu.

Petronas gave no reason for the crash.

Earlier the Star newspaper had said 12 people -- 10 oil rig workers and two pilots -- were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.

Searchers were still hunting for the missing person, Petronas said, adding that the helicopter -- operated by private firm Malaysian Helicopter Services -- was heading for another platform when it crashed.

Reuters